【推荐3】“One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” That’s a common expression, but the next time you throw something away, think about a twist on the old saying. What if your trash could become your own treasure? Many creative, thrifty, and environmentally minded people have come up with a way to make that happen. It’s called upcycling. Our world would be a better place if everyone would begin upcycling.

Upcycling is the practice of taking an unwanted item and turning it into something useful. For example, how about that pair of jeans with a hole in one knee? It could become a new pillow for your bedroom.

Upcycling is not the same as recycling. Upcycling is actually much better for the environment. Recycling takes an item made of glass, paper, metal, or plastic, breaks it down to its base material, and then uses that material to make another product. This requires a great deal of energy. On the other hand, when you choose to upcycle, the only energy you use is your own. And upcycling not only reduces the amount of trash that goes into our landfills, but it also protects natural resources, such as oil and gas. Recycling is good for the environment, but upcycling is even better.

Upcycling also makes a family’s budget stretch further. Of course, the idea of reusing items to save money is not new. During the Great Depression in the 1930s, many families lived on a tight budget. People had to use what they already had in order to meet their needs.

As responsible citizens, we should all be concerned with protecting our environment and budgeting our resources. Upcycling is a fun and creative way to help. The next time you go to toss something into the trash can, stop and think about what it could become. Chances are, there’s a brand-new item in your hand just waiting to be upcycled.

1. Why does the author mention an old saying in the first paragraph?

A．To arise reader’s awareness of upcycling.

B．To stress the importance of upcycling.

C．To lead in the topic of upcycling.

D．To show the idea of upcycling.

2. Which one below belongs to upcycling?

A．An old ladder is transformed into a bookshelf.

B．Old tin cans are transported to landfill.

C．A broken wooden door is chopped up.

D．Old cloth is made into a paper bed.

3. What is the difference between recycling and upcycling?

A．Upcycling is much more creative.

B．Recycling is much easier to achieve.

C．Recycling is much more cost-saving.

D．Upcycling is much more energy-efficient.

4. What can be inferred from the text?

A．Upcycling is popular at present.

B．Upcycling is replacing recycling.

C．Upcycling is worth recommending.

D．Upcycling is a tradition in daily life.

【推荐1】There is nothing in the US quite like Black Friday. Before midnight on Thursday, in malls across the US, people start queuing up outside the locked entrances of stores, making longer and longer lines, holding coupons(优惠券), sipping coffee and hot chocolate, rubbing their hands and stamping(跺脚) their feet for warmth, excitedly chatting, and waiting for the clerks to open the door when the time arrives.

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, “has become in recent decades a special American holiday”, said the International Business Times. Indeed, up to 147 million Black Friday shoppers were expected to put up with the dark of night and the elbows(手肘) of other shoppers so that they could bring home some bargains, according to the US National Retail Federation.

But why does the shopping festival have such a name?

The name was first used in Philadelphia in the 1970s. The streets and sidewalks of the city became so packed with traffic and crowds on the day after Thanksgiving Day that the local police did not look forward to it. Because of this, they called the day “Black Friday”, said The Huffington Post. However, others believe that Black Friday takes its name from the fact that because of the increase in sales on the day, shops are able for the first time in the year to move out of the “red” —that is, debt—and into the “black”, or profit. Businesses, of course, try to take advantage of this day. A decade ago, retailers(零售商) opened at 5 or 6 am. Now, many of the big stores open at midnight.

People really seem to like the whole experience of queuing up before midnight, “for it isn’t just about the bargains”, noted CNN. “For many shoppers, it’s just fun to be part of a large crowd. Those who go to the malls at midnight are driven by the same thing that makes a million people get together in Times Square each New Year’s Eve.”

1. Which of the following statements about Black Friday is TRUE?

A．It is a special day in the US on which government hands out coupons to customers.

B．It is a shopping festival in the US that falls on the second Friday after Thanksgiving.

C．It has been a traditional American holiday since the founding of the nation.

D．It is an opportunity for Americans to get things they want at a much lower price.

2. According to the article, people who queue up for Black Friday ______.

A．usually help each other to find good bargains

B．have a lot of complaints about the service of the retail clerks.

C．have great fun as part of the waiting crowd

D．have to wait until 5 am to 6 am to start shopping.

3. What is the article mainly about?

A．The shopping habits of Americans.

B．The origin and influences of Black Friday.

C．Tips on how to get good bargains on Black Friday.

D．People’s mixed feeling towards Black Friday.

【推荐2】When first entered, Vanak Restaurant does not look like much of a restaurant, but once the pleasant smells of kabob (烤肉串) hit the senses, you are incapable of calling it anything less.
Owned by a local couple, this Persian restaurant has an inviting, homelike atmosphere that many restaurants lack.

The space is small with only a few dining tables and nearly no decoration, but the environment is truly charming.

Lying in a hardly noticeable street corner, the restaurant still attracts all customers, especially those experienced in the delights of Middle Eastern cooking.

A common sight is that of old Persian men sitting in the corner talking loudly about world topics, watching news events on TV, drinking a black tea known as Persian chai, an reading local Persian newspapers all the while trying to finish off their plates piled with food.

The variety of food at the restaurant is limited, but the amount of each dish is fairly large. Most of the meals can serve two people and are under $10, so not only is it affordable but practical as well.

The food, especially appeals to health-conscious eaters because each dish is very healthy, made with limited fat and oil and served straight off the grill (烤肉架).

The main dish that the restaurant is popular for is its kabobs, which are different style of grilled meat.

One delicious and extremely healthy dish is the Joojeh Kabob, which is made of grille chicken pieces served with cither rice or bread. Another great kabob is the Cbelo Kabob, kabob consisting of grilled beef.

Although the restaurant is small, the atmosphere and the food is delicious. It is a place that should not be overlooked.

1. When first entering the restaurant, one can find that it ________.

A．is splendidly decorated

B．has pleasant smells of kabobs

C．is crowded with dining tables

D．looks like a common restaurant

2. What activity is also mentioned apart from dining in the restaurant?

A．Watching news events on TV.

B．Drinking a kind of black coffee.

C．Reading local English newspapers.

D．Discussing world topics in low voices.

3. The food of the restaurant ________.

A．is served in small amounts

B．is rather expensive

C．is rich in variety

D．is very healthy

4. What is the dish Joojeh Kabob mainly made of?

A．Rice

B．Chicken

C．Bread

D．Beef

5. It can be inferred from the passage that the restaurant ________.

A．occupies a large space

B．owns a favorable location

C．is popular for its special food

D．has a quiet environment inside

【推荐3】The number of snow geese arriving in the Arctic each spring to breed has skyrocketed over the past few decades. At first, wildlife biologists saw this as an environmental crisis, pointing to marshes (湿地） where plants were eaten by thousands of hungry birds. In response, the federal government loosened restrictions on snow goose hunting to protect the ecosystem.

But how do the Inuit, in whose backyard this is taking place, view the situation? A recent initiative is giving Inuit wildlife experts the opportunity to lend their knowledge to managing the species. The snow goose study, which is supported in part by Polar Knowledge Board(an   Inuit organization that manages hunting, trapping and fishing in central Nunavut),asked the experts to share their generations of knowledge about snow geese and their views on what should be done.

＂The community had concerns about controlling the population," says Ron, a community officer for the Inuit Association," and Inuit snow goose knowledge had never been recorded. People wanted to pass on what they knew."

Inuit wildlife experts disagreed with that, considering it wasteful and unnecessary. They felt hunting more snow geese in an organized way, such as paying local hunters a minimal amount of money and distributing the birds to disadvantaged families or operating a limited commercial hunt by employing local people, would be appropriate.

Inuit wildlife experts will meet scientists this fall to search for common ground. They say that while there may be too many snow geese in some areas, it's not a crisis. Biologists now generally agree that there seem to be plenty of undamaged marshes available and newer research shows that some damaged areas can recover.

Conservation planners for the three migratory bird protection zones in the area will use the study's recommendations-an example of how native knowledge can strengthen wildlife management." It is providing people who the decisions affect with a real, practical way to make recommendations and influence what happens," says Vicky Johnston, a biologist and manager with the Canadian Wildlife Service involved in the project.

＂Now that we have recorded and documented Inuit knowledge of snow geese," says Ron, ＂when facing the crisis, other people will be able to use the information to help manage the species, which is fundamental to dealing with it effectively."

1. Which of the following might Inuit wildlife experts agree with?

A．Organizing large commercial hunts.

B．Using snow goose hunting to man's best advantage.

C．Regarding too many snow geese as a crisis.

D．Hunting as many snow geese as possible.

2. What might biologists think about the marshes' future now?

A．It's unpredictable.

B．It's a bit promising.

C．It's too discouraging.

D．It's hard to get better.

3. What does the underlined word "it" in the last paragraph refer to?

A．The crisis.

B．Inuit knowledge.

C．The species.

D．Inuit research.

【推荐1】People feel good about recycling, maybe even more so when it comes to electronics. While electronics recycling isn’t bad, making it a panacea(万能药) for the e-waste problem we currently have certainly is. Unfortunately, that’s how we think of recycling and companies are eager to jump on that trend to appear more “green”.

A case in point: Apple. In 2016, there was lots of report on Liam, a robot able to dismantle(拆解) an iPhone in just 11 seconds--- a good way to recycle 1.2 million units a year. That sounds amazing until you take into account the fact that Apple had actually sold 231 million new iPhones the year before. Actually, Liam is the perfect symbol for recycling in the field of high-tech: a drop of green water in an ocean of pollution.

According to a recent UN report, the US produces about 6.3 million tons or 14% of the world’s electronic waste. Worldwide, almost 45 million tons of electronic waste were produced in 2016. Among them, only 20% has been recycled in some shape or form. The remaining 80% made its way to a more environmentally damaging end at the landfill(垃圾清理场).

Of course, we can say it’s time to double our recycling efforts. However, the huge amount of e-waste is impossible to deal with. The UN report points out that while there is an increased focus on recycling today compared to the past, the efforts to reuse used devices simply can’t keep pace with the high consumption rates for new devices.

And in their environmental responsibilities report, Apple admits that 77% of the carbon footprint of their electronics comes from its actual use. The environmental effect of replacing a device, even if it is recycled after, remains significant.

1. What’s the author concerned about according to Paragragh 1?

A．Some recycling turns out to be harmful

B．People have too much faith in recycling

C．Companies bear a high cost to be green

D．The e-waste problem is out of control

2. What may worsen the e-waste problem?

A．Few reports on the issue

B．Low quality of equipment

C．Difficult recycling progress

D．High demand for new electronics.

3. What does the author want to tell us?

A．The ways to lead a green life.

B．The limitation of electronics recycling

C．The responsibilities Apple should take on

D．The importance of protecting the environment.

【推荐2】Across the world language and history are closely connected. Languages are borrowed and changed. and as society changes, new words or phrases are created to show the current cultural understanding. Some phrases and words simply develop accepted usage, their origin forgotten.

One such phrase grandfathered in has become common, meaning someone is free from following new rules or regulations. While it often makes us think of the image of a gray-haired, older gentleman who gets out of trouble. the intention behind the term arose from something bad. Today. the term is widely used, most notably in real estate and health insurance.

But when the term was first coined in the 1890s, it referred to only one thing: voting rights. After the 15th Amendment (修正案) was carried by the US Constitution in 1870 banning taking way people's right to vote on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude(奴役)，some southern states did not readily accept the ruling. Instead, they carefully made amendments at the state level that avoided the federal law to try to keep African Americans from accessing polling stations. Since the basis of race could no longer be used, the state amendments introduced poll taxes as well as literacy tests. These limits were powerful; close to 30 percent of all voting-age males couldn’t read or write, most of whom were poor black men. But those taxes and tests would also affect poor unlearned white voters. Thus, a grandfather clause was added to allow an unlearned man to vote as long as he or his lineal ancestor (i.e., grandfather) had been a registered voter before 1867---three years before the passage of the 15th Amendment.

The clauses no doubt influenced the vote along racial lines, but party lines were at play too. At the time, most African Americans were Republicans (the party of Abraham Lincoln) and most whites were Democrats. The influence served to keep power in the hands of the Democrats.

The phrase “grandfathered in" is of course still widely used today without the meaning of taking away one's voting rights. But even as culture develops, whether we're aware of it or not, language has the power to hold our history.

1. In which condition is someone considered to be “grandfathered in"?

A．When he looks like an old man.

B．When he disagrees with new rules.

C．When he is not limited by new rules.

D．When he succeeds in making big money.

2. What was some southern states' purpose in making state amendments?

A．To stop black people from voting.

B．To make black people work for them.

C．To save face before the northern states.

D．To reduce the number of polling stations.

3. Why was the grandfather clause added to the state amendments?

A．To cut poll taxes for poor white men.

B．To make sure uneducated whites could vote.

C．To allow more white men to be educated.

D．To fee old white men tom taking literacy tests.

4. What does paragraph 5 focus on?

A．The fights caused by the clauses.

B．The composition of the two parties.

C．The effects the clauses brought about.

D．The protest African America staged.

【推荐3】Facial expressions are the primary way people exhibit emotion and read the feelings of others. Happiness, sadness, fear and surprise can be communicated through facial expressions alone. But when part of the face is masked (戴口罩), it becomes more difficult to recognize these cues.

If you cannot read other’s emotional state, your ability to empathize (共情) with them may be weakened. Moreover, if your mask is hiding your emotional state, others may not be able to empathize with you. Wearing a mask can also make you feel more distracted, further weakening your connection to others.

Fortunately, you can regain some control over communication by working with what you have left—the eyes. If you want to increase understanding with a masked individual, you should look them in the eyes, which may be easier said than done. Eye contact may cause discomfortable after only three seconds. But keep in mind, eye contact can also make you appear more intelligent and trustworthy.

You might be surprised how much information is conveyed by the body itself. For instance, when someone is happy, they stand up straighter and lift their head; when they are sad, they slouch and drop their head; and when they are angry, their whole body tenses up. Learning how people use their bodies to convey emotion may help reduce the uncertainty you feel when communicating with someone in a mask.

Don’t forget the impact of your voice. It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it. Along with the actual words, you also use volume, tone and pauses to convey your message.

Before your next interaction with a friend, think of ways to improve your connection. Pull your hair back so they can see your eyes clearly. Use your body and voice to convey the emotions you fear your mask might hide.

By all means, remember that social distance doesn't have to mean socially distant.

1. What is the function of eye contact according to the author?

A．You seem to be more friendly with eye contact for a long time.

B．Proper eye contact makes you appear more trustworthy.

C．Only eye contact can avoid misunderstanding.

D．Eye contact for five seconds makes you feel comfortable.

2. What can be learned from the fourth paragraph?

A．Learning body languages well can increase smooth communication.

B．There is little information conveyed by the body itself.

C．When people are sad, their whole body tenses up.

D．Standing up straighter and lifting one’s head means a person is angry.

3. How many ways are mentioned to increase communication when a person is wearing a mask?

A．1

B．2

C．3

D．4

4. What can we infer from the last sentence?

A．We have to keep social distance strictly.

B．We can regain some control over communication by social distance.

C．Social distance can increase understanding with a masked individual.

D．Social distance should not keep people distant and cold.

【推荐1】Every year, billions of kilograms of fresh produce are wasted in the United States. Meanwhile, millions of poor Americans go hungry, without access to healthy and affordable meals.

Evan Lutz is enthusiastic about correcting that social injustice. And he combines that goal with enthusiasm for business. Lutz is CEO and founder of Hungry Harvest, a business which collects and sells “ugly” produce. These are fruits and vegetables that most food companies would throw away. More than six billion pounds are wasted each year due to surface imperfections.

“So I’ll give you an example.” Lutz says, “If you go to a grocery store you will see all the produce lineup shiny, perfect, of the same size and color. But on a farm, everything doesn’t grow the same way. So all that stuff that doesn’t grow the same way often gets thrown out. And what we do is take all that normally gets thrown out because of its odd size or shape, box it up and deliver it to our customers once a week.”

For Evan Lutz, giving back to others came form his upbringing. “When I was growing up, my parents taught me the values of giving back, and giving is a lot more powerful than receiving. We sell produce with a purpose and that doesn’t just mean we reduce food from going to waste. We hire people that were formerly in prison or were formerly injured or sick living in homeless shelters. They really wanted to get back on their feet for a second chance in life.”

Evan Lutz is really happy to be realizing great mission that he thinks can really revolutionize the food industry in America.

1. The social injustice in Paragraph 2 refers to the fact that _________.

A．vegetables and fruits that don’t taste good are thrown away

B．grocery stores only sell produce of the same size

C．poor Americans can not afford healthy food

D．much produce gets wasted while many Americans starve

2. What business does Hungry Harvest mainly do?

A．Deliver food for free.	B．Collect “ugly” produce and sell it.
C．Raise money for the poor.	D．Buy “ugly” produce and process it.

3. Why does Evan Lutz employ those people mentioned in Paragraph 4?

A．To provide them with a job.	B．To reduce labor costs.
C．To increase productivity.	D．To earn a better reputation.

4. What can be the best title for the passage?

A．Creating More Jobs for the Less Fortunate.

B．Putting Healthy Food on Dinner Table.

C．Giving Unused Produce a Purpose.

D．Making Profits from Shiny Produce.

【推荐2】I first came across the concept of pay­what­you­can cafés last summer in Boone, N．C., where I ate at F．A.R.M (Feed All Regardless of Means) Café.You can volunteer to earn your meal, pay the suggested price ($10) or less, or you can overpay—paying it forward for a future customer's meal.My only regret after eating there was not having a chance to give my time.So as soon as Healthy World Café opened in York in April, I signed up for a volunteer shift(轮班)．

F．A.R.M and Healthy World are part of a growing trend of community cafés.In 2003, Denise Cerreta opened the first in Salt Lake City.Cerreta now runs the One World Everybody Eats Foundation, helping others copy her pay­what­you­can model.

“I think the community café is truly a hand up, not a handout，” Cerreta said.She acknowledged that soup kitchens(施粥所) have a place in society, but people typically don't feel good about going there.

“One of the values of the community café is that we have another approach，” she said.“Everyone eats here, no one needs to know whether you volunteered, overpaid or underpaid.”

The successful cafés not only address hunger and food insecurity but also become necessary parts of their neighborhood—whether it's a place to learn skills or hear live music.Some teach cooking to seniors; some offer free used books.Eating or working there is a reminder that we are all in this world together.

My 10 am～1pm shift at World Healthy Café began with the café manager—one of the two paid staff members.Our volunteer crew wasn't the most orderly, but we managed to prepare and serve meals with a lot of laughs in between.At the end of my shift, I ordered my earned meal at the counter, together with other volunteers.After lunch, I walked out the door, with a handful of new friends, music in my head and a satisfied belly and heart.

1. What did the author do at F．A.R.M Café last summer？

A．She enjoyed a meal.	B．She ate free of charge.
C．She overpaid for the food.	D．She worked as a volunteer.

2. What is the advantage of community cafés compared with soup kitchens？

A．People can have free food.

B．People can maintain their dignity.

C．People can stay as long as they like.

D．People can find their places in society.

3. Why are community cafés becoming popular in the neighborhoods？

A．They bring people true friendships.

B．They help to bring people together.

C．They create a lot of job opportunities.

D．They support local economic development.

4. How did the author feel about working at Healthy World Café？

A．It paid well.	B．It changed her.
C．It was beneficial.	D．It was easy for her.

【推荐3】What do you usually do after school? Most of you may have to finish homework. After that, some of you may take after-school classes, such as Xueersi to learn English or take math classes. Do you feel like there’s too much work to do? Some of you may not have enough time to sleep. But there is some good news on the way that may cheer you up.

On March 5, during the first session (会议) of the 13th National People’s Congress (全国人民代表大会), Premier Li Keqiang delivered this year’s Government Work Report. Education was one of the highlights.

"We will give attention to solving the problem of heavy extracurricular burdens (课外负担) on primary and secondary school students," Li said during his speech.

Chinese parents often put a lot of effort and money into their children’s education. Many send their children to after-school classes. In 2016, China had about 180 million school-aged students, according to a report by the Chinese Society of Education. More than 137 million of them were taking part in extracurricular classes or off-campus training.

To work out this problem, the Ministry of Education (MOE,教育部) and three other ministries put out guidelines on Feb 26 that call for more action to be taken to reduce extracurricular burdens. Their targets are private training schools that create excess workloads (过度的作业量) and pressure for students.

The guidelines are aimed at training schools which have no professional qualifications (资格) or pose(造成) safety risks, said Lü Yugang, an official from the MOE. He also said that reducing workloads for students should be a priority.

"It is a must-do task for children to study happily and grow in a healthy manner … and sleep half-hour or an hour more every day," said Wang Guoqing, spokesman for the first session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Politial Consultative Conference (中国人民政治协商会议).

1. From the first two paragraphs, we know that _______.

A．students now have more homework than before

B．some students take after-school classes

C．many aduIts don’t get enough sleep nowadays

D．this year’s Government Work Report didn’t mention education

2. _________ students took part in off-campus training in 2016, according to a report by the Chinese Society of Education.

A．180 million	B．180 billion
C．137 million	D．137 billion

3. According to LüYugang, action might be taken to close training schools _________.

A．that are not approved by the MOE

B．that punish students physically

C．that have no professional qualificeations

D．that charge high tuition (学费)

4. What is the story mainly about?

A．Risks of off-campus training classes.

B．Reducing students’ workloads.

C．The 2018 Government Work Report.

D．Guidelines created by the 13th National People’s Congress.

5. Who is the passage written for?

A．the teachers	B．the parents
C．the students	D．the MOE offieials